60 members of pro-Hindu outfits detained

The police detained more than 60 members of Bajrang Dal, Sri Rama Sene, VHP and also BJP’s minority wing leader Franklin Monteiro for protesting against Tipu Jayanti celebrations in the city on Saturday.

As the district administration had clamped CrPC Section 144, the police had stepped up security in and around Nethravathi Hall of Zilla Panchayat at Urwastore to prevent any untoward incidents.

Initially, BJP leader Franklin Monteiro waved the black flag and raised slogans against the state government and home minister for observing Tipu Jayanti and claimed that Tipu was a murderer.

He said Tipu was a religious bigot and people are opposing Tipu Jayanti. He removed his shirt and raised slogans.

Monteiro was arrested last year also for holding such a protest during Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

Later, the members of Bajrang Dal, including leader Sharan Pumpwell, Sri Rama Sene and Vishwa Hindu Parishath attempted to take out a procession from Ganapathy temple in Urwastore to the venue of Tipu Jayanti. The police detained them all.

Sharan Pumpwell said, “In spite of the opposition from a majority of the people, the state government is observing Tipu Jayanti which is not fair. The government is trying to woo a section of the society. The Tipu Jayanti should be dropped.”

“The police are trying to suppress our right to protest which is against the Constitution,” he claimed.